Together, Stick Family

This cute little picture was an idea from one of my sister's stamping classes. When I saw the picture that she had created for her sample, I knew that I wanted one. This makes me smile every time I see it. My kids love seeing their stick figure alter ego.

Linking up to:

Love at Home Vinyl

I am noticing hints of this pretty patina blue creeping into my home. I love this color, and I love the freshness that it adds to my red, green, brown home.

This vinyl design is one that I put together for my friend's cub scout group. They are planning to put it on small wooden plaques for Mother's Day. I had just one left, so I grabbed a black frame, spray painted it and added the paper behind. The vinyl is on the glass. I like the shadowbox effect. Once I had it finished, I had to tone the blue down just a bit with a little brown ink and a sponge.

You are my inspiration Mom

Just a quick peek at what I am working on for Mother's Day.

I got the idea from Punkin Seed Productions. She has beautiful, hand painted blocks. Hand painting is not my forte' so I used vinyl. 

Check out the background for my picture, I thought it looked kinda cool. It is the waxed paper that I paint on. After years of using paper to protect my table, my friend mentioned that she uses waxed paper. It is awesome! I don't have to deal with paper sticking to my projects! and nothing soaks through. It works great for stain, mod podge, paint... 


Linking up to:

Countdown to Summer

Are your kids counting the days until school is out? Mine are. My little ones can't wait to have their brothers and sister home for the summer and my big kids can't wait to sleep in (like that will happen...).

I put these blocks together for my wonderful husband to put in his classroom and one set for my kids to take to their teacher this week for teacher appreciation week.

These are also in my etsy shop.

I am linking up to:


house of hepworths linky party

Just One More Winter Meal (hopefully)

One of my favorite meals in the winter is chili and cornbread. It doesn't take a terribly long time to make and I love the way it simmers on the stove and smells so good. Even though the last couple of days have been nice and warm --I even mowed the lawn for 4 1/2 hours yesterday-- today it has snowed and rained for the majority of the day. I figured that I could make this meal one more time before spring (wishful thinking really, I am ready for spring!)

When we were married my husband informed me that he didn't like cornbread!?! I couldn't believe it, who doesn't like cornbread? Just kidding, but I was on a quest to find a recipe that we both like. I love to try new recipes and move on, but this one is a keeper! I have used this same recipe for the past several years. It is the BEST!!! (no offense to anyone else who also makes the BEST cornbread).

It is a sweet cornbread which I think balances out the spice of the chili very nicely. Try it, and let me know what you think.

The BEST Cornbread

1/2 cup butter, melted (no substitutions, really why would you want to?)

1 cup sugar

2 eggs

1 cup cornmeal

1 1/2 cup flour

2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

1 1/2 cup milk

Mix butter, sugar and eggs. In a separate bowl combine flour, cornmeal, baking powder and salt. Add to the butter mixture, mix just until combined. Add the milk 1/2 cup at a time. The mixture will be quite runny. Pour into a greased 9" pan. Bake at 375 for 40 minutes or until golden brown on top.

We make two pans at a time at our house, and eat it all!

Please excuse my food photography, I am definitely not an accomplished food photographer.

My version of Subway Art

I love the subway art I have seen around blogland. I thought that something about family and love would be fun. But I knew that as much as I really, truly do enjoy painting, I am not the steadiest with black and white. So this is my version, using vinyl lettering, created for a sister's crafting weekend. 

Family, Home, Blessing

Another Plate, Another Great Thought

This plate and vinyl are available in my etsy shop.

Another Party? Another Magnet Board

It really wasn't a conscious decision to give magnet boards for all the birthday parties. But it is something that we really like around here and I would rather give something that will last longer than the cheap toys that I can afford to send.

When Collin was invited to a friends party this week, I was excited to be able to sew something for her. But Collin had other plans, he has been watching all of the older kids take magnet boards and he was determined that he would do the same. 

He was excited to decorate the gift wrap for this one, and I was so happy to see how well he did. This is a picture of the birthday girl as a princess. I wanted to unwrap the present and keep the picture.

I am linking up to:

Recycled Notebooks

What to do for preschool today?

Collin, Addy and I made recycled notebooks. We just cut the covers out of recycled cereal and mac'n'cheese boxes. I had a ream of legal size recycled paper that we used for the pages. 

Seven sheets of paper was about perfect for my sewing machine. Collin loved sewing them together. He sat in front of me and guided the books side to side. 

What fun! 

I now have a gallon size ziploc bag full of notebooks and colored pencils in the car now. It has been great. I can't believe how often I pull them out.

 

Hooked on Building

This is a blast! If there is anyone out there that still hasn't checked out Ana's site, 

do yourself a favor and spend some time there. I have a list of projects that I am itching to start. The first one that called to me was the bankable bookcase and I did it!

 My husband helped me out with the cuts on the table saw. Those sheets of wood are Heavy! But other than that, it is my project. I know that he was more than happy to help me out; he is the greatest. But I really wanted to do it by myself. 

(wow, that really sounds like Addy, my 2 yr. old.)

Here it is, primed and ready to paint.

Check out my cute shop assistant.

 

I should have asked for help measuring, I measured where I wanted it about 10 times. I was so worried that it wouldn't fit. Our house is very small, and everything has to fit just right 

(like a puzzle).

 

Guess what? it doesn't fit !?!???

I didn't think to measure the doorway, I wanted to cry. After all that work, I couldn't put it in the closet the right direction. So instead of seeing my cute bookshelf with toys and boys all nicely organized (at least for the picture) I can only see the end. Because of the width of the doorway and the light fixture, I can't turn it. The walls are all dinged up now, too, from my trying. 

 

I thought about moving it to Cort and Chan's bedroom, but after all of Collin's work on it, I couldn't just give his bookshelf away. Maybe after I finish one for each of them, I will have them trade. But for now, we get to enjoy it from the end.

 I love this color, it looks great in Collin's room. I wish that I had a better picture 

of the finished project, but I didn't bother to take one in my workshop (kitchen) 

because I was going to get it once it was in the closet, 

oh well... I will do better next time--you better believe there will be a next time.  

This is so fun!

 

Thankful for Dirty Dishes?

I saw this thought for a kitchen around Thanksgiving time and it really stuck with me, I love that it makes me grateful for the little things that I have--even the chores that I am not grateful for--

I bought a couple of these plates, and think they are so pretty with vinyl on them. 

If you would like one, they are in my etsy shop.


I am linking to:

Aaargh! NO THROWING BALLS IN THE HOUSE!

Yes, I was yelling! Chandler was tossing a racket ball around the living room 

(I really don't know why--I guess because he is 11 and a boy).

I was in the kitchen very calmly reminding... "do you really think that is a good idea?"... when the ball bounced off my window, my favorite window, the HOME window. I watched in horror as everything fell in slow motion. the window slid down the wall, toppled over the entertainment center, knocked the decorations over, bounced off Chandler's head (I had a hard time not telling him that it served him right), and tumbled to the floor- followed by all my decorations.

Would you believe that NOTHING broke? not even Chandler's head?

Now the window is propped against the wall waiting to be re-hung. I have got to find some stronger hardware, any suggestions? 

(I must get it hung up quickly, 

Addyson has already tried to climb it like a ladder!)

Playing with my new toy.

I just got a band saw, what a fun toy that I never thought that I would need/want. I remember when I dragged my feet when my husband wanted to buy his chop saw. I am not sure, but I think that I may have used it almost as much as he has. Now I have collected more fun "toys" than he has!

My first project that I cut is these Easter Eggs. Inspiration via Lyndsey.

She has great ideas. You ought to check out her blog.

Linking up to:

A Few of my Favorite Things...

Have you seen these? I love the idea and when I sat down to make some for a friend; I decided that I wanted a set for myself. 

I planned to add the photo holder wires, in fact they are cut and shaped already. But I couldn't find the proper drill bit. I tied a large grosgrain ribbon around the blocks, and decided that I liked it just like that.

I will probably add the wires at some point but right now, they are fine. I think that I like the more subtle designs better with the pictures, my papers are so busy...I love the designs but I think that is why I like them better without photos...

Do you want a set for yourself or possibly a gift? I would be happy to cut the vinyl for you for a minimal cost. Just send me an e-mail.

New/Old Window

Do you remember this window? I love it! Of course I can't keep the Christmas wreaths up there. So it was time (a little while ago) for a change. I just hadn't taken a picture yet.

What do you think? 

I love being able to cut vinyl whenever the impulse hits me.

I do think I may be getting carried away, but I just can't seem to stop.

I love this font, especially when there is a shadow behind it from the sun. It is just what I imagined.